What is Relationship Anxiety?

For some people, relationships can come very easily and they don’t have to deal with any anxieties or fears about commitment. For others, relationships are a challenging problem that they can’t seem to overcome. Someone who struggles with finding and staying in relationships can be said to have relationship anxiety or a commitment phobia.

Even though relationship anxiety is not a diagnosed mental health problem, it is a very real issue that can cause problems in people’s personal lives. People who have commitment issues have problems staying in relationships for the long term because their feelings about the experience of love can be more intense than others. Their feelings while in the relationship can drive anxiety that can build up causing issues with their expectation of commitment.

People with this type of phobia, deep down want to have a long term commitment but have built up a lot of fear about it which causes them to leave relationships. They may develop anxiety because their feelings of excitement about the person become misinterpreted as panic or negative anxiousness. They may also have trouble resolving their need for intimacy combined with their conflicting desire for freedom and individuality.

Those struggling with relationship anxiety may fear a relationship ending abruptly, be afraid that they are not in the right relationship or they may have trust issues from the past that prevent them from feeling secure with the other person. These fears can cause them to only stay in relationships for a few months before ending it. The only way to move past relationship anxiety is to confront these fears and work through them before ending a relationship.

Talking with a professional about relationship fears and finding strategies to confront a fear of commitment can make it possible for a person to stay in a long term relationship and find ways to cope with their feelings.

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Habitual Use and Cannabis Addiction

Since the legalization of marijuana in several states throughout the U.S., there has been more exploration into understanding how marijuana affects the body. Traditionally, it is believed by many that marijuana is not an addictive drug but studies show that differences in an individual’s brain systems can determine whether or not they get addicted. Some cannabis users may never get addicted even with long term use while others form an addictive habit due to their brain’s reaction to the drug.

In a recent study, researchers used brain imaging to monitor neural activity that occurred when users viewed images of cannabis. All of the participants had exaggerated responses in the brain region that processes reward but only those with dependencies also had responses in the region that forms habits. This means that the users who have dependencies are using marijuana out of habitual use rather than to seek a feeling of reward or euphoria from the drug.

The study showed that as addiction to cannabis develops it changes responses in brain systems in ways that strengthen the person’s desire to seek the drug. Their brain begins to attach extreme importance to the drug and views it as a necessary habit rather than simply just a pleasure seeking activity. Those who use the drug out of habitual use are more likely to struggle with moderating or quitting their addiction to marijuana.

Not every marijuana user will become addicted but for those who do they are likely to have trouble getting out of the habit because of the changes in their brain. Abstinence could lead to withdrawal symptoms because they have become dependent on the drug to function. Detoxing from marijuana can help return brain changes to normal over time and allow the user to eliminate the habitual association their brain has with the drug.

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What to Eat During Addiction Detox

Many people don’t realize the influence that our diet can have on the way we feel and how well our bodies are able to function. A healthy diet can be crucial when you are recovering from an addiction, especially during detox when you are experiencing issues like aches and pains or insomnia. Eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can help make the process a little easier on your body.

Foods such as caffeine, sugar, saturated fats, sodium and processed food can put unnecessary stress on your body. Caffeine and sugar can be very detrimental to your ability to get a full night’s sleep. If you are struggling with insomnia during detox then cutting out caffeine and sugar may make it easier for you to sleep.

Processed foods that are high in fat and sugar can make you feel tired, irritable and tend to worsen symptoms of withdrawal. Avoiding these foods and focusing on eating natural, whole foods can improve your mood and help you get through detox. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help make it easier to digest and detoxify your body from any chemicals in the system.

Whole grains can be helpful during detox because they provide fiber and energy which an addict may be lacking in their diet. People with addictions often also lack vitamin B so eating foods that are high in this nutrient can be good for their health such as salmon, broccoli and asparagus. Getting the right nutrients and plenty of fiber will help improve your mood and energy during detox.

People often have reduced appetites during detox so it is important to get as much nutrition as they can through low calorie but nutrient dense foods. Before entering detox, make sure to consider your diet and nutrition to improve the process.

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Common Reasons for Struggling in Early Recovery

Quitting an addiction can be one of the most difficult transitions a person will ever make in their life. The first few months of recovery can be especially challenging and dangerous for the possibility of relapse. There are some important choices that they need to make and they will have to address and be aware of the reasons they are struggling.

Some of the common issues that come up in early recovery are spending time around others who still use. If you are feeling tempted to use again because your friends still do then it is important to set boundaries with them and ask them to support you by not having alcohol around you. It is also a good time to start making more sober friends and spending time with people who motivate you to remain abstinent.

Another common reason people struggle in recovery is that they are dealing with difficult feelings that they don’t know how to handle such as anger, guilt and shame. Intense emotions can make you feel more inclined to use alcohol and drugs so it is important to learn how to manage these issues. Talking to other people about what you are feeling, especially your therapist can help you accept these feelings and still move forward with your recovery.

One issue that often comes up in early recovery is developing romantic relationships and dating. This is something that is usually discouraged in the first stages of recovery because it can be problematic for people and bring up lots of triggers. It might be a good idea to take a break from dating while you are going through your early recovery until you feel more stable.

People struggle in recovery for many different reasons but finding strategies to deal with problems and focusing on the goal of staying sober can help get you through any setbacks.

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Feeling Isolated in New Sobriety

Quitting an addiction leads to plenty of different obstacles that someone in recovery will have to face. Not only will they have to deal with physical and emotional issues related to addiction but they will have to adjust to a completely different lifestyle which may change how they interact with others. Their friends and the people around them may change dramatically because they are creating brand new habits that reflect their healthier choices.

A newly sober person may start to feel more isolated as they find it harder to spend time with their old friends or social circle that still drinks or uses drugs. They may start to feel different or alienated from people that they used to consider very close friends. Part of their recovery might require them to distance themselves from people who still excessively abuse substances and are not supportive of their decision to be sober.

In order to avoid feeling isolated in new sobriety it is important for people in recovery to make lots of new connections. Meeting other people who are sober, joining a support group for recovery and developing friendships with others in a treatment program can all be helpful in improving mental and emotional health. Everyone in a recovery program needs to feel supported and have a social network of people who are going through many of the same things.

Feeling isolated in recovery unfortunately can increase the risk for relapse especially for those who are still in the early phases. Taking steps to avoid isolation is not only beneficial more mental health but it also makes it much easier to stay focused on sobriety and avoid feelings of boredom and loneliness which can lead to substance abuse cravings. For those in recovery, make sure to join sober groups and communities that can keep you connected to others.

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What is Alcohol Related Harm?

Binge drinking is not only harmful to the person consuming excessive amounts of alcohol but it can put the people around them in danger. Studies have shown that one in five people are harmed by others drinking alcohol in some way. Alcohol-related harm can range from being kept awake or feeling uncomfortable to more serious dangers such as physical or sexual abuse.

About one in twenty people experience alcohol-related harm that is related to aggression such as physical threats or bodily injury. Studies in England have revealed that alcohol-related harm is actually fairly prevalent and some people experience harm frequently. Even minor harms such as anxiety and sleep prevention can have an impact on an individual’s health.

According to research, men are more likely than women to experience physical aggression from someone who has been drinking and women are more likely to experience emotional harm. Of those surveyed fewer than 1 percent said that they were forced into something sexual either from a stranger or a cohabiting partner. Alcohol related harm can also include physical injury and death through car accidents involving driving under the influence.

People tend to focus on the health and social problems that alcohol use causes to the individual who is addicted. It is important to be aware of the impact that alcohol has on everyone else who is in contact with the drinker. Alcohol lowers people’s inhibitions, changes the way they behave and can increase their aggression, making it dangerous to be around someone who is binge drinking.

When people are more conscious of how alcohol harms others it can influence them to moderate or abstain from drinking. Understanding the impact of alcohol not only on yourself but others can help put drinking behavior into perspective and influence some to change their habits.

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Understanding Childhood Conduct Disorder Effect on Adulthood

Children that struggle with certain behavioral problems may be struggling with a conduct disorder caused by differences in the way their brain is wired. Kids with severe antisocial behavior may display aggression or even be harmful to others in ways that they find difficult to control. Unfortunately, without proper treatment it can lead to other issues in adulthood including things like personality disorders.

When children or adolescents have behavioral problems it can be the result of issues like ADHD or mental health problems like depression, anxiety and other disorders. A conduct disorder can be closely related to mental health problems that the child and parents may not be aware of. If a child suffers from conduct disorder it can affect their ability to interact with their peers and demonstrate things like empathy and guilt when dealing with others.

The kind of issues that children with conduct disorders develop can later on lead to symptoms of personality disorders once they reach adulthood. The antisocial behavior that kids with conduct disorder display can continue to be a problem when they grow up. They might get involved in crime or substance abuse and suffer from relationship problems.

Personality disorders like borderline, narcissistic and paranoid disorder can stem from conduct problems in childhood that are never completely resolved. People with borderline and narcissistic can have issues with aggression, antisocial traits and various kinds of behaviors that may have developed when they were a child. Studies have found that there is a very high correlation between personality disorders and conduct problems in childhood.

In order to avoid children dealing with further mental illness issues when they grow up it is important for them to get treatment when they have behavioral problems. Aggression and a lack of empathy can be a sign of a serious disorder so it is crucial to get a diagnosis and treatment as early as possible.

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